ON THIS DAY

1531:

Earthquake in Portugal kills tens of thousands of people and flattens much of Lisbon and other cities.

The Bank of England issues one-pound notes for the first time.

Settlers arrive at Sullivan’s Cove, the start of the first settlement of Hobart. Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from island of Elba to begin his second conquest of France. RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) is first demonstrated by Robert Watson-Watt. A skeleton estimated to be at least 40,000 years old is uncovered at Lake Mungo, southwest NSW. It becomes known as Mungo Man. London finance house Barings collapses after losses run up by trader Nick Leeson. Victor Hugo, French author (18021885); Peter Brock, Australian racing-car driver (1945-2006); Michael Bolton, US singer (1953-).

1797: 1804: 1815: 1935: 1974: 1995: Birthdays: